Contamination is the #1 reason for troubleshooting in optical networks. Dirt is everywhere, and a single particle mated into the core of a fiber can cause significant back reflection, insertion loss, and equipment damage. Most field test failures can be attributed to dirty connectors, and most connectors are not inspected until the detection of a problem, after the result of permanent damage. More than ever, proactive fiber inspection and cleaning have become network-critical measures that must be addressed.
Visual fiber inspection is the only way to determine if connectors are truly clean before they are mated.